Mother's

Thank God for mothers. I want to recognize three things that can happen when a mother places her faith in the promises of God.

Number one, a mother’s faith can bring heaven to earth.

Luke chapter 1 tells the story of Mary’s faith bringing to pass God’s promise of a Messiah. I think one reason Mary was chosen was because she would believe what God told her. Notice her response to the angel when she was told she would conceive a child by the Holy Ghost who would be the Savior of the world. She said, “May it be to me as you have said” (v. 38).

Mary’s faith literally brought heaven to earth, but when any mother lives by faith in God, there will be “heaven on earth.” Children may be surrounded by humanist ideas, hatred, or even violence throughout their day, but when they come home to a godly mother, they can experience a little heaven on earth. Dad may be at work all day, striving to succeed in our competitive society, but when he comes home to a godly wife, he can experience a little heaven on earth.

Number two, a mother’s faith can produce a godly legacy that affects generations to come.

There are two aspects to a mother’s faith. First, she believes what God said in His Word. And, second, she believes in her children. Our mothers believe in us even when we don’t believe in ourselves.

Mothers have the privilege of bringing new life into the world, but they are also uniquely equipped to nurture and help a child grow. A mother’s influence on her children is far greater than even she may realize.

If you are a mother and you are wondering if your good example has taught your children anything, I want to assure you that it has. I want to encourage you to keep up the good work. Your faith is more powerful than you think!

Number three, a mother’s faith can change circumstances in life.

A mother’s faith can propel children to do things they never thought possible. A mother’s faith in her child can cause him to succeed where he would otherwise fail. That is why it is so important for moms to believe in their children and speak positive, faith-filled words over them.

Did you know that if it had not been for a mother, we may not have electric lights today! When Thomas Edison was a young boy, his teacher sent him home with a note that said, “Your child is dumb; we can’t do anything for him.”

Mrs. Edison wrote back, “You do not understand my boy. I will teach him myself.”

She did—and the results were world-changing!

Where would we be without the love, prayers, and support of our mothers? I encourage you to take time to thank your mother for her faith—the faith that brings heaven to earth, gives you a godly legacy, and changes your circumstances for the better.

Are We Ready for The Royal Wedding?

"For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." Revelation 19:7

Girls dream for years about their wedding day. Somewhere stashed in the single gal’s closet is some sort of wedding magazine. Guys, a word of advice right now: DON’T have an opinion about what you want for your wedding. Your woman’s got your whole wedding planned – and it was already done 10 years ago. But that’s the thing; guys don’t sit around chatting to each other about their future weddings over tea. They don’t have secret stashes of wedding magazines under their bed (or maybe they do?) They don’t think about the wedding DAY…. enough said.

But imagine the bride wasn’t ready…. Imagine a bride frantically trying to find a wedding dress store open the eve of her wedding? Imagine trying to find a venue for the wedding the day before? And what about food?! It wouldn’t happen. The wedding day would come and there would be no wedding, only a very disappointed couple.

It seems crazy to not be prepared for a wedding, yet we have no problem not being ready for the ultimate wedding day: when Christ comes to meet His Bride, the church.

God has been dreaming about His “Bride” from the beginning of time. I got some of you confused. Yes, God has a “Bride”. Now before we get all sorts of wacky thoughts about that, let me explain.

God calls His church His “Bride”. That means each person who follows after Christ is His “Bride”. I don’t find that so strange, but I really don’t know how men process that…

This “Bride” doesn’t imply anything sexual, but it speaks of intimacy, friendship, close relationship. God dreams of the day when we, who walked with Him daily, will be with Him forever. Just like any man here on earth, He waits for a Bride that will love Him. He longs for the Bride who will be faithful to Him till “death do us part”. He envisions a Bride adorned in purity and innocence, not tainted by cruelty and selfishness. And just like a man wants a life-mate who shares common interests, God is no different.

My greatest advice to single girls waiting to meet the man of her dreams is this; “BE the kind of person you want to attract”. In other words, if you’re promiscuous, greedy, selfish, or materialistic…. expect something of the same sort in those attracted to you. This same applies to God. He is looking for a people who are pure in heart, loving, full of humility and those who care about the things He cares about.

One day, Christ is coming back for His Bride. We don’t know what day. We don’t know what time. But when He comes, some will be ready, some won’t.

Thoughts on 2 Timothy 1:7

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline.”2 Timothy 1:7

God never meant for us to be in control, strong in and of ourselves. We were meant to show His strength in our weakness as He provides for our needs. We were created to live like little children, dependent on the care of our heavenly Father. When we insist on living life our way, in our own strength, we experience the same result as Adam and Eve. We will live in fear. This is right where Satan wants us. If the enemy can keep us contained by fear, we won’t be able to fulfill our potential or make a difference in the lives of others. Satan knows what we are capable of with Christ. To prevent us from that realization, he poisons us with fear — fear of trusting God, fear of surrendering ourselves completely to His plans.

Fear that is fueled by Satan’s lies can be described by this acrostic:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

It’s not that we shouldn’t be concerned about certain issues of life such as safety and health. But when worrying takes over by keeping us up at night and shutting us down during the day, we move into a place we were never meant to live.

We need to live in God’s presence and rely on His promises and provision. Only then will we be able to distinguish between truth and lies. Only then will our lives be marked by faith, not fear.
My prayer for each of you this week is that Christ will help you to discern between false fears and real concerns.

As I commit God’s Word to memory, I pray He will make His truth alive in my heart so that I can battle fear and live by faith.

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
Cast off that I might be brought in,
Trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,
Surrendered to hell's worst that I might attain heaven's best,
Stripped that I might be clothed,
Wounded that I might be healed,
Athirst that I might drink,
Tormented that I might be comforted,
Made a shame that I might inherit glory,
Entered darkness that I might have eternal light.
My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
Groaned that I might have endless song,
Endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
Bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
Bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
Experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
Closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,
Expired that I might for ever live.
O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me,
All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished;
Help me to adore thee by lips and life.
- Puritan prayer, from The Valley of Vision

Insecurities - Leave Me Alone!

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." Proverbs 31:25

A friend and I have been reading and discussing Beth Moore's most recent book "So Long Insecurity". I have enjoyed our discussion immensely. It's no surprise that this book hits home more than I care to admit and facing those insecurities have brought me to my knees in prayer on numerous occasions. I'm beginning to realize that insecurity is sure sign of unbelief!

The scripture above is one that Beth brought out in Chapter 8 and I find myself clinging to this verse when insecurity rears its ugly head. I tend to put on the "tough girl" act but deep down inside I battle daily with insecurities and to be honest I am so tired of it. It has been comforting to know that I'm not the only one and to actually have someone that I can talk to about those insecurities is such a blessing from God.

One of the biggest insecurities in my life deal with relationships. I'm horrible at relationships. Relationships are a struggle for me in that I constantly doubt myself. Some of the crazy things will trigger my insecurity. Things like. . .

1. Getting an offhanded comment from a person who has teeny stench of superiority about him/her.
2. My girlfriends go out and don't invite me.
3. I get a three line response to an email that took me an hour to write.
4. I pour out my heart to someone and they just don't get it.
5. I catch my significant other looking/talking to another woman (she might be a friend or a stranger)

The list could go on and on. Needless to say when the insecurities come, so does stupid behavior and then desire to give myself a swift kick in the behind. Oh to be rid of the insecurities!

A Heart Problem

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34)

The thoughtless and malicious use of the truth can be as devastating to others and to our witness as outright and intentional dishonesty, not to mention what it does to our spiritual life. Truth can be used as a weapon to hurt someone. Simply because something is true does not mean it should be repeated. Unnecessarily repeating a truth about someone can destroy their faith in people (especially within the body) and cause them to withdraw from the church fellowship. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus says the words we use reveal the condition of our hearts, which is his primary concern. He is interested in what we say and do, but he's more interested in the motives behind them. Before we say anything about someone, we should follow THINK. Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? And, is it kind?

From time to time, I've been guilty of telling something about another that person that, although true, caused terrible pain (and the sad part is I got some sort of perverse joy from it). In an effort to rid my life of this sin, I've had to think about ways that Satan can tempt us to misuse truth in hurtful and destructive ways.

A friend may tell me something about herself in confidence, but I find the temptation to share this information with some one else irresistible. I've violated the confidence of a friend and used a truth to destroy a relationship, perhaps forever.

I may have witnessed the stumbling of a fellow Christian who has fallen into sin. As a fellow believer, what should be my attitude toward that person? As Jesus modeled forgiveness, kindness, and redemption for the woman caught in adultery, I should love and pray for that person and seek to help him/her repent of their sin and return to a Godly lifestyle. I should never shoot the wounded, but help them to heal.

I've been know to pride myself in "telling it like it is." But, there is a huge difference in telling it like it is and being pure, holy, and edifying in my speech. Sometimes telling it like it is may not please God. I don't have to say it just because it is true. I don't have to share that juicy morsel of gossip just because it turns out to be fact. My words reveal what I am really like deep down in my heart. An apple tree doesn't produce grapes and a grapevine doesn't produce apples. If I'm walking close to Christ, my wholesome speech will be the fruit of that relationship. Words of kindness and hurtful words should never come from the same mouth. If I have an untamed tongue (and I do at times), it is because I have an impure heart.

The heart of the problem is a problem of the heart. Let's pray that God will give us hearts and minds modeled after Jesus and make a commitment to never us the truth to damage someone ever again. Being careful about what we say and how we say it is a sign of Christian maturity. "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."(Ephesians 4:29)

Believer, allow the healthy, utterly whole, and completely secure part of us (Christ in us) increasingly overtake our earthen vessels until it drives out every emotion, reaction, and relationship. Allowing God's truth to eclipse every false positive and let our eyes spring open to the treasure we have, there in His glorious reflection and see the treasure we are! It is then that the beauty of the Lord our God will be upon us! - Beth Moore

Last night while reading Broken-Down House by Paul D. Tripp I had to admit that I fail miserably at what he as "Cruciform Love" (the love we give other that shapes itself, molds itself to resemble in some essential way what took place at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.). It is a willing self-sacrifice for the redemptive good of another. He gives the following practical terms to suggest what it means to be committed to being an instrument of cross-shaped love:

1. Not keeping yourself so busy with you and yours that you have no practical time to love others.
2. Being committed to knowing people, because you can minister only in very limited ways to those whom you do not know.
3. Being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of others.
4. Being willing to share your physical resources with others.
5. Being willing to live with an open home.
6. Being perseverant and patient even when the love you give is not returned.
7. Actively looking for places where you can function as one of God's tools of love.
8. Resisting the temptation to be judgmental, self-righteous, and critical.
9. Overlooking minor offenses and fighting the temptation to become bitter or cynical.
10. Making life decisions out of a recognition of this inescapable call to love.
11. Being lovingly and humbly honest in moments of misunderstanding; more committed to reconciliation than to being right.
12. Admitting that you are still learning to love as you have been loved.
13. Being willing to own up to your sin and admit your faults.
14. Not judging the success of your life by the size of your house or bank account, or by the quality of your car, but the the quality of your love for God and others.
15. Regularly examining the motivations, desires, and thoughts of your heart in the mirror of God's Word.
16. Moving beyond simply surrounding yourself with people whom you find comfortable and likeable.
17. Being a student of God's Word, a joyful participant in the means of grace, and a committed participant in the fellowship of the body of Christ, so that the love you offer others may be increasingly pure and mature.
18. Being willing to be misunderstood, mistreated, and misrepresented for the sake of incarnating Christ's love.
19. Overcoming evil with good.
20. Not letting race, social class, gender, age, or ethnicity get in the way of a biblical call to Christlike love.
21. Willing to have your schedule and plans interrupted or altered.
22. Willing to grant and seek forgiveness.
23. Paying attention to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people God puts in your path, and looking for ways to help them bear these burdens.
24. Believing that God will not call you to a task without giving you what you need to accomplish it.
25. Willing to get up earlier and stay up later.
26. Learning the details about someone's struggle so that you love wisely, while at the same time guarding the reputation of the person you are loving.
27. Weeping with the one who weeps and rejoicing with the one who rejoices.
28. Willing to endure tense and uncomfortable situations lovingly.
29. Not allowing yourself plausible excuses that seemingly free your from love's call.
30. Making a commitment to being a faithful friend.
31. Willing to take on big things, even as you humbly admit your limits.
32. Keeping your promises and being faithful to your word.
33. Being open to correction, loving criticism, and godly rebuke.
34. Believing in the body of Christ and recognizing that you are but one of the tools in God's big toolbox of redemption.
35. Being open to sound counsel and receptive to advice.
36. Willing to go to bed tired and to awake to another day of calling.
37. Hiding God's Word in your heart and keeping his Kingdom always before your eyes.
38. Refusing to become anyone's substitute messiah, but instead to point people to the presence and grace of Jesus.
39. Looking out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.
40. Building relationships, not just for the purpose of being relationally comfortable, but so that those relationship would be a workroom for redemption.
41. Loving people in such a way that they never feel like thy are in debt to you.
42. Remembering that you are more like than unlike the people you are called to love.
43. Understanding that the call to love is a call to both word and deed.
44. Daily remembering Jesus, being in awe of the gift of his love and living thankfully.

Where is Your Hope?

As I was reading Colossians 3:2(Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth) today I was thinking "yeah, I just wish it were that easy." Having an eternal perspective can be so flabbergasting and so hard to imagine that I find myself thinking at times that it sounds great but so unattainable. Today as I meditated on this verse I thought about a testimony I heard about how one woman learned to live with an eternal perspective. Allow me to share it with you. . .

Mollie had become a Christian at a young age. Later in her life she met and married, Al, a thriving wealthy Christian businessman. Al and Mollie built a large home in a well-to-do neighborhood and had 4 children. They were involved in church ministry, had the best things money could buy, their children were wonderful, and they had great friends. They were living the American dream.

As the years went by Mollie began to notice that Al was withdrawn, irritable, and evasive. But she kept telling herself that he was a busy man, so she just avoided upsetting him and made excuses for his behavior. Before long it was obvious their marriage was in trouble. The only time they talked was when finances and schedules demanded it or when others were around. When Mollie would try to talk to Al about their problems, he would remind her of the life he had provided for her. After months of trying to talk and their marriage continuing on a downward spiral she decided to seek help, but Al refused to seek counseling for himself. He insisted she was the only one with a problem.

She found a counselor and after months of continued hurt, discouragement and being frazzled , Mollie went with two of her closest friends for a weekend get away. She needed to clear her head and decide what to do next. Most of all she need the encouragement these women could provide. As they headed out for the beach condo she was excited about the weekend away and relieved, but she didn't have a clue what was transpiring at home.

Back home, Al was loading the moving truck. Over the past year he had been planning his and the children's exit. He had slowly moved his assets into his partner's name. Not only was he determined to leave, but he was determined to destroy Mollie (emotionally and financially).

Upon Mollie's return home on Sunday evening she found the house empty except for a bed, a table and her clothes. She could not make sense of it and began to call friends looking for her family but no one knew where they were. She then began to call Al, but none of his numbers were working. Finally she found a note in the kitchen: "I'm not coming back, I won't give you visitation rights unless you make this easy. You will fend for yourself from here on out." She was devastated. She cried for days and tried to make sense of her life. As the days passed she faced the most difficult time of her life. Things that she had looked to for her daily support had all disappeared and her life would never be the same. What would she do? She finally turned to her Pastor and after months of counseling, studying God's Word and praying she realized that her hope had been in man, material things, family, money, her lifestyle and friends. She had built her house on sinking sand and it happened without her realizing it. Although she was a Christian, Christ was not where her eyes and heart were fixed, she had fixed her eyes upon earthly treasures alone.

Today Mollie is working and supporting herself. She has seen her children a few times since Al left and she has begun to make new friends. The last time I spoke with her, she told me "I'm standing!" She has hope! Firm steadfast, and trustworthy hope. The fear has been replaced with courage. The saddness has turned to joy and she has a desire to live.

What happened? Where did the changes come from? She started to look at life through an eternal perspective and when she did she got her hope back.

Having an eternal perspective helps us know how to live in this sinful world. Until we think with an eternal perspective we don't understand what is truly important nor will we know what to do with our life. It brings a Christian a genuine hope no matter the circumstance and produces courage and discernment. Without an eternal perspective Christianity makes no sense ("If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men - 1 Corinthians 15:19). Everything God calls us to do with our hearts and hands points to the reality of eternity. If all we have is this life, then what comes next? Our life on earth is just prep work for the eternity that awaits us.

Eternal perspective also helps us see that this world is not left to incidental happenings and disorder. It's the exact opposite, it's a world under the rule of a Redeemer who loves us so much that he gave his life for us and so powerful that he can defeat even death. There is reason for hope when we realize that our life is in the hands of the One who "created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. . . and is before all things and in him hold all things together."

What Mollie discovered was that the things of this world were never meant to give hope or life. Because she came to that realization (by God's grace), she lives with hope and courage she never had before. Her eyes had been fixed on earthly things (love of man, material things, family, money, lifestyle and friends) but are now fixed on eternal things.

So I ask you, are your eyes fixed on the eternal? Is your hope in the eternal? Are you asking people, circumstance, and things to do what they were never meant to do? Are you looking to this world to be your God? What holds your hope?

One day, you and I will be on the other side. Will we say, "Salvation belongs to our God, and to the Lamb!"? Will we be able to say then that the hope we have never disappoints us?

Sanctity of Human Life

Today we observe Sanctity of Human Life across our nation. Isn’t it strange that we have set aside a day to remember human life? There are 388 endangered animals and 129 threatened species and Americans have gone out of their way to protect all kinds of life. However, we have failed to protect human life. The words of Jesus in Mark 10:14 , "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”, are beautiful. Yet despite those words, nearly one million unborn children die by abortion every year in America.

Where can we start? We can start by getting on our knees and cry out to God to forgive us for closing our eyes and looking the other way for too long as young women have chosen to believe the lies of the world telling them abortion is okay and we weren’t there to refute those lies. The time has come for us as Christians to rise up against abortion and become involved in the lives of those who have chosen abortion or face an unwanted pregnancy.

What can we do?
1. Call your nearest pregnancy resource center and ask how you can help.
2. Reach out loving arms to those experiencing crisis pregnancies in this community. Get involved in their lives and help meet their needs.
3. Share the Good News of God's love by lovingly sharing others the way to receive forgiveness for sin and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

2010

"At any age it does us no harm to look over our past shortcomings and plan to improve our characters and actions in the coming year." - - Eleanor Rossevelt

As each New Year approaches, I always have uncertainties about what it will bring. Uncertainties regarding health, financial issues, issues involving my children, their education, their health, and the struggles they face growing up in a corrupt society. Yet at the same time the new year brings exciting opportunities.

Whenever I begin to fret or worry about the uncertainties of life, I catch myself trusting in my own strength, abilities and resources. As a Christian, I have been told by Jesus himself not to worry or be anxious about anything that I may need. "Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?. . . And which of you being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?. . . For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:25,27,32-33)". What a simple proposition and promise - - yet it is so difficult for me to accept. The point here is that in 2010 I should make my relationship with my Lord the most important thing in my life. Once I have done that, it's amazing how God will remove the worries and anxieties and meet my every need.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we are instructed to trust the Lord with every fiber of our being, and never ever think we are wise enough to handle our own problems or challenges. As we live for him and seek his will for our lives, He will provide direction, and wisdom sufficient for every situation we may encounter. All we must do is trust him with all our hearts.

As I face 2010, no doubt I will feel inadequate to deal with every situation as it arises; and often I may feel as if I can't really trust anyone. But God knows what is best for me, and is a far better judge of what I want and need than I am. As I begin the new year, my desire is to make him the central and vital part of everything I do. Then I can claim his promise to meet my needs and guide me because I will be striving to live according to His will and purpose for my life. It is my prayer that 2010 will be the best year of my life as I draw closer to my Lord and trust him with all my heart.

An Outburst of Faith and Patience

"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and
patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:12

It is no accident that you find yourself in the season you are in your walk of faith. Have a fresh outburst of faith and patience. Allow God to do His thing! God is not inactive in your life. "For my Father is always at his work to this very day and I, too, am working."

"When you are in the midst of a test-trial-suffering, God is holding up a mirror to your inner heart and the reflection He hopes to see is Himself. Who is in the mirror? Yourself or God?"

The Broken Pieces

I love the stained glass windows at our church and the way the Florida sunlight shines through them. I had taken this picture months ago and had forgotten about it until I saw a friend's post on Facebook tonight. The next time I look at a stained glass window I know this statement will come to mind. . .

God will use our brokenness like broken pieces of glass. . . putting them together into the most beautiful stained-glass window that He will shine through!!

Mastered?

"You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am." John 13:13

If we are consciously aware that we are being mastered, that idea itself is proof that we have no master. If that is our attitude toward Jesus, we are far away from having the relationship He wants with us. He wants us in a relationship where He is so easily our Master and Teacher that we have no conscious awareness of it - a relationship where all we know is that we are His to obey.
-Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Rejection

How bad does it hurt to be rejected? At some point in our lives all of us have been rejected. It may have been by friend, co-worker, family member, or boyfriend/girlfriend. It's stings to be rejected by others. I've been rejected more times than I care to think about and I've held "pity parties" over being rejected. I was reminded this morning just how important it is to understand Jesus as our shepherd when someone has rejected me.

"The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. . ." - John 10:12

The hired hand abandons the sheep because they aren't his own and he's not committed to them. Why stick around and get eaten when he's not the real owner? So, he runs, leaving the sheep vulnerable. What imagery! All of us are sheep, whether we recognize that or not. And it's not the hired hands of this world we need to put our trust in but in the shepherd instead. When trouble comes, the shepherd is going to be the one willing to lay down His life for us. He'll be the one with his rod and staff fighting off the wolf. He's not going to leave us vulnerable. God tells us that He will lay down His life for us. And that isn't just lip service. He did it when He went to the cross for us and laid down His life for us.

Rejection hurts. But what does it really matter if a hired hand deserts us when we have a Shepherd? What have we really lost? It'll hurt for a little while and we might even experience pain and tears, but when we realize the good Shepherd is still there and that He will never leave us or forsake (even for someone better, prettier, nicer) us, it's then we can embrace peace, comfort and security that we may have thought we had when that hired hand turn tail and ran.

In the midst of rejection rest assured that the good Shepherd hasn't left you alone. He's the only one that loves you enough to lay down His life for you. And when we think about it, what more could we ever want than that?

Grace

Just started reading Paul D. Tripp's book, Broken-Down House, and as with all of his books that I have read thus far I am enjoying it immensely.

I love his description of Grace. . .

So grace is a story and grace is a gift. It is God's character and it is your hope. Grace is a transforming tool and a state of relationship. Grace is a theology and an invitation. Grace is an experience and a calling. Grace will turn your life upside own while giving you a rest you have never known. Grace will convince you of your unworthiness without ever making you feel unloved.

Grace will make you acknowledge that you cannot earn God's favor, and it will remove your fear of not measuring up to his standards. Grace will confront you with the fact that you are much less than you thought you were, even as it assures you that you can be far more than you had ever imagined. Grace will put you in your place without ever putting you down.

Grace will enable you to face truths about yourself that you have hesitated to consider, while freeing you from being self-consciously introspective. Grace will confront you with profound weaknesses, and at the same time introduce you to new-found strength. Grace will tell you what you aren't, while welcoming you to what you can now be. Grace will make you as uncomfortable as you have ever been, while offering you more comfort than you have ever known. Grace will drive you to the end of yourself, while it invites you to fresh starts and new beginnings. Grace will dash your hopes, but never leave you hopeless. Grace will decimate your kingdom as it introduces you to a better King. Grace will expose your blindness as it gives you eyes to see. Grace will make you sadder than you have ever been before, while it gives you greater cause for celebration than you have ever known.

Grace enters your life in a moment and will occupy you for eternity. You simply cannot live a productive life in this broken-down world unless you have a practical grasp of the grace you have been given.

- Paul Tripp, Broken-Down House, pp. 42-43

Pray for True Repentance

A friend of mine shared this quote with me earlier today via text message. God is good to know the words that we need to hear and exactly when we need to hear them.

"The truly repentant are often so purified and humbled by disaster that they are willing to do anything. If persons who claim repentance are still arrogant and unwilling to take responsibility, they are probably missing the fruit of repentance. They are a long way from ready. Don't bail out on them even then! Help them, speak the truth in love, and pray them to true repentance!"

- Beth Moore, When Godly People Do Ungodly Things

Go Do Some Good

As Beth concluded the Simulcast on Saturday she had each of us stand and find a woman next to us, take their hands, look them in the eye and repeat these words of commissioning:
My Dear Sister, God has not overlooked you.He has not ignored you He hears every petition and intimately knows the heart beneath it. Give Him full access to all your longings pray every single day to become a person who delights in Him. When it seems to disappear remember to check your JAW! Are you jealous? Are you angry? Are you worried? Roll it all on Jesus; He's strong enough to carry it, big enough to handle it.
Trust God with all your heart. Now leave this place and go into the world and do some GOOD.

Treasures Unfolded

Our weekend at the Living Proof Simulcast was awesome! God has given Beth Moore a wonderful gift and she is not sitting on it but is sharing it with others and in this day and time that is awesome. Below are some of the treasures found in the Word that Beth shared with us.

I was created to delight in a God who delights in me.

God delights to show me mercy (Micah 7)

Nothing dictates our lives like our desires - People do what people want to do. A legitimate heart desire is a sustained longing that is unaffected by mood or surroundings.

Beneath the desires of our heart is the heart of our desires - keep praying! What is under the layer of that desire. Is destiny or God's glory at stake?

Delighting in God adapts our desires into inevitability - when we delight in God there is a wonder. Give me a heart that delights in you.

Ask God to give you specifics to work on in your life - wanting to be a woman of God is too general - move to a more focused desire (deal with grief, addiction, tongue).

Nothing external can steal our right to delight. If we don't delight it's not external, it's internal. We can't blame people or circumstances if we don't delight in Him.

Every man desires unfailing love - Proverbs 19:22

What's taking a bite out of my personal delight? Look to the JAW
J- jealousy (desire tinged with envy -John Piper).Who am I jealous of?
A- anger - refrain from it - what am I mad about? Anger is constricting - delight is freeing. Anger has a degree of grief. There is always a degree of sadness in madness.
W - worry - to eat or gnaw into . . . to affect something by biting or gnawing it. Worrying never changes it. When we worry the thing we worry about ends up looking like a raw hide bone that a dog has been gnawing on. God can control it but I have no control.

We want everyone and everything to get fixed so we can be happy.
To make room for delight we have to commit.

Commit - roll your burdens upon Christ. Some of us have no delight because we refuse to commit.

Our behavior betrays our beliefs.

Fill yourself with holy passions.

Way = journey, your road, passage, course of life. Our rear ends are sore from sitting on the fence.

Nothing is passive about patiently waiting for desire to turn into delight.

Be still (v.7) stop, hold your peace, be silent. Sometimes we need to SHUT UP. There is a danger of being doers and not hearers. Learn to listen. Before you pass on a truth, receive it and meditate on it.

Wait = anxious expectations. Chiyal - to twist or to twirl - to bring forth.

Nor is glory piled upon glory good for you (Proverbs 25:27 - The Message). Self glory is not good for us. The biggest offense we can commit is arrogance. God will go to great lengths to protect our humility. Humility brings intimacy with Christ.

Til faith becomes sight trust in God and do good. Faith will become sight. Speak faith to each other.

Trust him and do good. If my objective is to be right and proven right this is not the right attitude.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

Don't sit back waiting to be proved right, get out and do some good.

Dwell in the Land - I have an inheritance. Until I receive it dwell in the land where God has placed me.

Safe pastures: feed on his faithfulness

v. 13 - the Lord sees the evil and he will deal with it.